Great Lakes ~ Bluefaced Leicester Show

The 2010 ~ Great Lakes ~ Bluefaced Leicester Show

The Bluefaced Leicester Breeders Association (BFLBA) will be hosting the 2nd Great Lakes ~ Bluefaced Leicester Show held in conjunction with the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival in Jefferson, WI on September 11th - 12th, 2010.

The BFLBA will be coordinating the Bluefaced Leicester Show along with the North American Mule Sheep Society's (NAMSS) 3rd Annual Mule Sheep & Progeny Show. Our guest UK judge presiding over both the Bluefaced Leicester classes as well as the Mule Show classes this year will be Glenn Shapiro. New this year to the Great Lakes ~ Bluefaced Leicester Show will be a Young Handlers class (for ages 14 and under), the Progeny class (sire w/ 2 progeny), and the aged ewe class (2 years and up). Glenn will also be giving an educational presentation on the 'History of the Bluefaced Leicester' and the 'Development of the Hazelwood Flock'.

The BFLBA's, Great Lakes ~ Bluefaced Leicester Show, and the NAMSS's, Mule Sheep & Progeny Show are excellent venues that allow us to showcase the Bluefaced Leicester, and the Mule ewe to the purebred, as well as the commercial sheep industry.

The BFLBA and the NAMSS would like to thank the UK- BFLSBA for thier generous contribution in providing us once again with our guest breeder-judge; and for their continued support of our efforts here in the States promoting the Bluefaced Leicester and the Mule ewe.

AN INTRODUCTION TO OUR 2010 JUDGE:

Our visiting UK judge this year is Glenn Shapiro, Hazelwood Farm, Silverdale, Carnforth, Lancashire, UK. Glenn is a past Chairman & Vice Chairman of the UK-BFLSBA, and sits on their Council of Management. Her other duties include serving as an inspector for the Society's fall ram sales, as well as judging at the Royal Shows, and at local County shows. Some of Glenn's Bluefaced Leicester judging assignments this year have included the Northumberland Show, and at the prestigious Royal Welsh Show.

Mrs. Shapiro's Hazelwood Flock prefix is synonymous with the Bluefaced Leicester breed. She established the Hazelwood flock in 1985, with 7 ewes, and 2 ewe lambs, buying in rams from other well known flocks such as Parcelstown, Walton, Shrewbridge, Barlaes, Cairn Smiddy, and Newmills. HAZELWOOD Bluefaced Leicesters have won the red ticket at all the major shows, as well as winning the coveted Interbreed Champions titles at the Great Yorkshire, and the Royal Highland Show.

We look forward to meeting Glenn, and her husband, Dan, this September during their visit to the USA, and the Great Lakes area.

Blues, Youth, Lambs, and the YCP

Last year's recipient of the Youth Conservationist Program, Nick Wenger, recently sent an update about his Bluefaced Leicester ewe, Beechtrees 'Carron'.
After receiving Carron at the 2009 YCP Awards at the MSWF, Nick and Carron went on to compete in several Pennsylvania Fairs and shows, taking the purple rosette at the Elizabethtown Fair. As part of his contract with the YCP program to breed Carron, Nick purchased a Bluefaced Leicester ram lamb, aka Fred, from a pair of previous Bluefaced Leicester YCP recipients, Rachel & Joe Goodpaster.
Nick has learned to hand blade shear his sheep, as well as to hand card, and then spin the wool. In March, Carron presented Nick with a set of triplet Bluefaced Leicester lambs, two ewes and a ram. Mother and lambs are doing great!
We look forward to seeing Nick at the MSWF, for the presentation of his YCP 1st year report.

Awesome job Nick & Carron !

'Carron' with her 2010 triplet Bluefaced Leicester lambs

2009 YCP Bluefaced Leicester ewe 'Carron' donated by Beechtree Farm to Nick Wenger.

New Year Blue Promotions

We started off 2010 by promoting the Bluefaced Leicester and the BFLBA, as well as the NAMSS and the roll that the Mule plays in the 3-Tier Breeding System.
We were at the Michigan Sheep Breeders Assoc. 'Shepherd's Weekend'
held in Lansing, MI on a very cold and blustery weekend January 2nd & 3rd.

Our display table contained newsletters, tri-folds, and flyers for the BFLBA, and the NAMSS.

As well as handouts announcing the dates for the 2010 Great Lakes ~ Bluefaced Leicester Show, and the NAMSS ~ Mule Sheep & Progeny Show,
to be held at the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival, September 10 - 12, 2010

We also had a laptop and computer display screen running different photo slideshows promoting Bluefaced Leicesters, Mule Sheep, grass fed lamb, and the different breeds associated with the 3-Tier Breeding System.

We had many interested sheep producers asking questions about the BFL sires involvement in the 3-Tier system, as well as picking up the informational flyers and newsletters for reading later.

Watch this blog and the www.BFLBA.com website for updates on where we will be promoting the Bluefaced Leicester, and the BFLBA and its members,

as well as information about the 2nd Great Lakes ~ Bluefaced Leicester Show.

History of the Bluefaced Leicester

Just in time for Christmas gift giving for the Bluefaced Leicester enthusiast on your list.

The Bluefaced Leicester

"A History of the Breed"

By: Jeremy Hunt

This 50 page black & white booklet was published in the UK by the Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders' Association and is available here in the USA.

It takes an indepth look at the history and development of the Bluefaced Leicester starting with Robert Bakewell's work in the 1700's, and it includes many b&w photos fo the breed from as early as 1901.

Order your copy of

'The Bluefaced Leicester ~ A History of the Breed'

by sending your email request to: beechtrfrm@aol.com

The cost of the booklet w/ shipping (in the USA) is $ 23.

BFLBA Website

The BFLBA's website has recently undergone a few updates to its pages, including some photos from the Great Lakes ~ Bluefaced Leicester Show in the photo gallery. Visit: www.BFLBA.com
The complete results from the GLBFLS show, and more photos will follow on this blog, and in the upcoming issue of the BFLBA's newsletter 'The Blue News.

Great Lakes ~ Bluefaced Leicester Show

For the Great Lakes ~ Bluefaced Leicester Show 2009, our judge was allowed to choose a special placement award called the "Judge's Choice Award". He was to choose an appropriate topic for what he felt was the most deserving category for the entries of the day.

Our guest UK judge: Mr. John Stott, choose to make it the "Young Handlers Award" to recognize the young youth who did such a great job exhibiting their Bluefaced Leicesters. The two youngest handlers of the day, Blake & Tyler Johnson 'River Winds Farm', exhibited excellent showmanship skills with their respective entries, and the time they had spent training their sheep really showed. 5th Place

Yearling Bluefaced Leicester Ewe:

Blake Johnson with his yearling ewe 'Belinda'

Tyler Johnson with his ewe lamb 'Dianthus'

Tyler Johnson
Winner of the 'Judge's Choice Award'
for Young Handler
Presented by our UK judge: Mr. John Stott
President of the UK- Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders' Association

Glimpse at UK Fall Ram Sale

The following photos are from the Bluefaced Leicester ram sale

held at the UK's NSA Wales & Border Ram Sale on the Royal Welsh Showgrounds.

Bluefaced Leicester Sale Champion

bred and exhibited by: M. Roberts 'Myfyrian'

judged by: Neil Laing & Matt Drummond

The winning ewe class being recorded into the books by Arthur Yeats

The Ewe class entries

The ram lamb line up

The Shearling Ram line up

another view of the Shearling Ram class

Great Lakes ~ Bluefaced Leicester Show

The Bluefaced Leicester Breeders Association (BFLBA)

will be hosting the

1st

Great Lakes ~ Bluefaced Leicester Show

to be held in conjunction with the

Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival, Jefferson, WI

September 12th, 2009

at 10:30 AM

Location: Indoor Horse Arena

Judge: Mr. John Stott, President UK- Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders' Association

LAUND FARM, Chipping, Preston, Lancashire, UK

Mr. Stott will also be giving an Educational Presentation titled:

The Bluefaced Leicester "The Finer Points"

held at 1:30 PM Saturday

Located in the Indoor Horse Arena

* Mr. Stott will also be presiding over the 2nd Annual ~ Mule Sheep & BFL Progeny Show

Sunday, September 13th,

and speaking on

Selecting Ewes for the Three-Tier System, at 1:30 PM Sunday in the Indoor Horse Arena.

BFLBA Online Auction - Place Your Bids!

Welcome to the BFLBA Online Auction! Our auction features Bluefaced Leicester and other sheep related items. Click here to access the auction site.

Whether you're looking for actual livestock or a gift for a fiber enthusiast, the auction will no doubt be a great way to buy BFL/sheep related items!

Proceeds from this fundraiser will help defray the cost of a UK judge at next month's first Great Lakes Bluefaced Leicester Show at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival. The show will feature the UK judge, John Stott, President UK-BFLSBA.

The opportunity to have the president of the UK-BFLSBA judge our BFLs will greatly benefit so many areas--the U.S. BFL breeders and the surrounding communities where the BFLs play a role. John Stott's experience, insight, and knowledge of the breed will allow breeders to further promote the awareness and advancement of the Bluefaced Leicester sheep.

Place your bids!

Thank you for your support!

New: UK ~ BFLSBA Website

The UK ~ Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders' Association has just launched its redesigned website. The layout and format is user friendly and vibrant, with plenty of colored photos of sharp Bluefaced Leicesters and Mules.

Check it out at: http://www.blueleicester.co.uk

Press Release: Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival

The 1st ~ Great Lakes ~ Bluefaced Leicester Show

The Bluefaced Leicester Breeders Association (BFLBA) will be hosting the first Great Lakes ~ Bluefaced Leicester Show held in conjunction with the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival in Jefferson, Wisconsin on September 11th - 13th, 2009.

The BFLBA will be coordinating its Bluefaced Leicester Show along with the North American Mule Sheep Society's (NAMSS) 2nd Annual Mule Sheep & Bluefaced Leicester Progeny Show. The judge presiding over both the Bluefaced Leicester classes as well as the Mule Show classes will be John Stott the newly elected president of the UK's Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders' Association. John has also agreed to do several educational presentations highlighting the Bluefaced Leicester and the Mule ewe. The BFLBA's Great Lakes ~ Bluefaced Leicester Show, and the NAMSS's Mule Sheep Show will be an excellent opportunity to showcase the Bluefaced Leicester to the sheep industry, for their versatility not only as a purebred sire, but as a crossing sire in the 3-tier breeding scheme for grass fed lamb production too.

The BFLBA and NAMSS would like to thank the UK- BFLSBA for their generous contribution in providing us once again with our guest breeder-judge; and for their continued support of our efforts here in the States promoting the Bluefaced Leicester.

A BIT ABOUT OUR 2009 JUDGE:

John Stott and his family live on and work 'LAUND FARM' which is located in Chipping, Preston, Lancashire, UK. Laund Farm is a 500 acre family farm, which runs approximately 700 hill sheep mainly Swaledales and Beulah Speckled Face producing 400 Mules that are sold each year, plus a 400 ewe Freisland flock for their sheep milking enterprise, and around 30 suckler cows and 20 pedigree Simmental, as well as John's 50 pedigreed Bluefaced Leicesters. On June 3rd 2009, the Stott's and Laund Farm was the host location for NORTH SHEEP '09'. North Sheep is a biennial event run by the UK's National Sheep Association (NSA) an organization which represents UK sheep breeders. North Sheep is an industry event which brings together agricultural companies, sheep farmers and agricultural experts for a day. North Sheep '09' attracted over 9,000 visitors and 250 trade stands from across the sheep sector. Around 100 foreign delegates also flocked to the event which showcased Britain’s 70-plus sheep breeds. We look forward to meeting John and his wife, Christine, in September.

Champion Penrith Sale 2008
John Stott 'LAUND'
(photo courtesy of Wayne Hutchinson 'Farm-Images.co.uk')

Black Sheep Gathering 2009 ~ Report

Black Sheep Gathering

A special issue of 'The Blue News' has been uploaded to the files sections of the: Bluefaced Leicester & BFLBA Members, yahoo groups.
It contains reports from the 2009 Black Sheep Gathering, by Kathy Davidson 'Potosi' and Robina Koenig 'Tumble Creek', as well as color photos of the Bluefaced Leicester classes, and the Spinner's Lead competition.

1st Great Lakes ~ Bluefaced Leicester Show

Bluefaced Leicester Breeders Association

Great Lakes
Bluefaced Leicester Show

In conjunction with the:
Wisconsin
Sheep & Wool
Festival

September 11 - 13, 2009

Jefferson Fair Park
Jefferson, Wisconsin

Bluefaced Leicester Breeders Association
Breed & Informational Displays

Great Lakes ~ Bluefaced Leicester Show
Judge: John Stott, President UK-BFLSBA
LAUND FARM, Chipping, Preston, Lancashire, UK
Saturday ~ September 12th, 2009
At 10:30 AM

Educational Presentation

The Bluefaced Leicester
"The Finer Points"
John Stott 'Laund Farm" Lancashire, UK
Saturday at 1:30 PM

www.bflba.blogspot.com
www.bflba.com

The Blue News ~ Spring 2009 Issue

The Spring 2009 issue of 'The Blue News' can now be accessed in the 'Files' sections at the following Yahoo chat groups:

Bluefaced Leicesters, BFLBAMembersOnly, and MuleSheep.

It is also scheduled to be uploaded to several websites for general public access.

The UK Mule

The UK - Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders' Association has been working on a project for about the last year that pertains to the Mule ewe. With the increased use of the Bluefaced Leicester as a crossing sire on a wide variety of breeds, it has become necessary to encompass the mules under one broad title, thus the formation of the educational & promotional group: The UK Mule.

The UK Mule website is already up and running and can be accessed at: http://www.ukmules.co.uk/

The "UK Mules" will have its' "coming out" debut with their new stand and promotional information on June 3rd at the UK's NSA ~ North Sheep '09' event that will be held at the host 'LAUND FARM'.
You might recognize the Laund Farm and the name John Stott, who will be our guest judge for the 1st Great Lakes ~ Bluefaced Leicester Show, as well as the 2nd Annual ~ NAMSS Mule Sheep & Bluefaced Leicester Progeny Show, John is also the incoming president of the UK- BFLSBA.

MSWF ~ Sheepdog Herding Demonstrations

Bluefaced Leicesters and their breeders were a very integrated part of the 2009 Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. From the numerous enquiries and breeding sheep sales, to the show ring, to the Working Border Collie herding demonstrations, to the Youth Conservationist Awards, and as one of the weekend's most sought after fibers in fleece and yarn sales, the Bluefaced Leicester is proving its versitility as a multifaceted breed.

MSWF ~ Sheepdog herding demonstrations.
The four footed talent: Working Border Collies
The two footed talent, aka... Handlers: Nancy Cox Starkey 'Trial and Error Acres' Mt. Airy, Maryland, and Mark Soper from Woodbine, Maryland.
Working Conditions: Saturday the skies cleared and the crowds came out, and on Sunday well, let's just say it was weather that only a duck would love!

Mark and Nancy teamed up once again at the MSWF with their respective dogs, "Lark" ~ Starkey, and "Aggie" ~ Soper, and a group of Nancy's Bluefaced Leicester yearling ewes, to wow the crowds at the Herding Dog demonstrations. Mark and Nancy demonstrate the fine tuned talents of their working Border Colllies as they put the dogs and the sheep thru their paces on Saturday and Sunday at the Festival.

Mark Soper with "Aggie" moving the Bluefaced Leicester ewes thru the course.

Nancy: in full 'water-proofs' with 'Lark', and some of her T&E Bluefaced Leicesters.

"Lark" and "The Blues": in full gimmer fleece, beautifully clean and draping thanks to all the rain. Such an elegant breed with plenty of eye appeal.

Bluefaced Leicester Promotions:

Since Nancy used the Blues last year at the MSWF herding demos, and with their subsequent winning Dog Trialing photo by: Teresa Ballard being voted to promote the World Dog Trials in Wales, there have been numerous requests for Bluefaced Leicesters and Mules to use at herding demonstration across the country because of their style, temperament, and eye appeal.

Thank you Nancy for all your hard work in promoting the Bluefaced Leicester!

MSWF ~ Youth Conservationist Program

Youth Conservationist Program

Organizer: Elaine Ashcraft
Recipient Participants: youth between the ages of 9 - 18 years old.
Donating breeders: representing 14 different rare or minor breeds

The donating breeders select a youth to awarded their ewe based on their written essays on "why they would like to help preserve a heritage breed of sheep."
Requirements for the program are:
* They must be present at the MSWF to receive the donated ewe.
* They must exhibit and show the ewe at least twice in the receiving year:
1) a county fair or local sheep show and , 2) at their State fair.
* Also, they must either use the ewe's fleece to make a wool item, or sell the fleece to a fiber artist.
* Breed the ewe to a registered ram in the fall.
* Submit a report with pictures, to the donor breeder by April 30th of the following year.

This year's recipient of the Bluefaced Leicester yearling ewe is eleven year old Nick Wenger 'Wen-Crest Farm' in Pennsylvania. The yearling Bluefaced Leicester ewe he received was donated by Brenda Lelli 'Beechtree Farm', and the ewe is Beechtrees 'Carron'.
This summer, Nick and Carron will be joining three other previous Bluefaced Leicester YCP recipients from Pennsylvania, to educate, promote, and exhibit their Bluefaced Leicester's at their local Fairs, and their State Farm Show.
We look forward to hearing from Nick during the summer months about his 4-H and Show experiences with Carron.

Brenda Lelli, Nick Wenger, and Beechtrees 'Carron'
Youth Conservationist Program Awards ceremony
Sunday, May 3rd, 2009 ~ during the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival

For more information on the Youth conservationist program contact

Elaine Ashcraft at: 740-622-1573, tankewe@tusco.net

MSWF ~ Parade of Breeds

The Bluefaced Leicester in the 'PARADE OF BREEDS'

Sunday at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival.

The ram is Beechtree's 'Marston' handled by Kyle McCleary 'Rock Jim Farm' a Bluefaced Leicester breeder from Pennsylvania.

Kyle's own ram who placed 5th in the yearling White Long wool class (1st place for the BFL's) had already been shorn so Kyle went in the Parade with one of the Beechtree rams from the 'Breeds display'.

Kyle did such a great job handling 'Marston' in the parade that someone came and bought the ram afterwards.

Thank you! Kyle

Maryland Sheep & Wool ~ Hall of Breeds

The Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival's 'Hall of Breeds' area is a favorite stop for festival goers. The purpose of the Hall of Breeds, is to highlight the diversity of breeds available here in the USA, and to provide informative and educational material about the breed.

Here is the BFLBA ~ Bluefaced Leicester breed display, along with the NAMSS ~ Mule Sheep display. The stand was kept well stocked with breed flyers, The Blue News - newsletters, BFLBA members lists & applications, as well as a handout about the upcoming Great Lakes ~ Bluefaced Leicester Show at the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival in September.

We rotated pairs of white and natural colored yearling rams thru the display during the course of the weekend, depending upon who was being groomed or headed for the show ring. One of the white rams was also used in Sunday's 'Parade of Breeds', and kindly handled for me by another Bluefaced Leicester exhibitor, as I was busy getting a Bluefaced Leicester yearling ewe ready to meet her new owner in the 'Youth Conservationist Program' awards ceremony.

Bluefaced Leicester Breed Display

Classified Ads: May

BEECHTREE FARM
For Sale: Bluefaced Leicester ewes and rams, white & natural colored, yearling and older. Taking reservations for 2009 lambs. For a complete list enquire at: beechtrfrm@aol.com, or visit: beechtreefarm.blogspot.com, beechtreefarm.com.

CROSS WIND FARM
Bluefaced Leicesters. White and natural colored. Lambs, yearlings, and adults. We also offer BFL fleece, roving, and handspun yarn when available. Check our website (www.crosswindfarm.com) for availability or send email to densmore@crosswindfarm.com. For more information and news, visit: www.crosswindfarm.blogspot.com.